<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>333438</docID> <postdate>2024-11-19 09:08:37</postdate> <headline>Extra $110m for ACT schools ups pressure on holdout states</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-333439" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20131101000821308741-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>The percentage of public school funding in the ACT will increase to 22.5 per cent in 2026. (Dan Peled/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Dominic Giannini</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Public schools in Canberra will receive extra Commonwealth cash, putting pressure on bigger states holding out for a better funding deal.</strong></p> <p>The federal government will increase its percentage of funding in the ACT to 22.5 per cent in 2026, up from 20 per cent.</p> <p>It equals an extra $110.5 million between 2025 and 2029, bringing the Commonwealth's total contribution to more than $1 billion across the five years.</p> <p>Funding will be tied to school performance, including identifying and helping struggling students in their early years, whole-of-school support systems and tackling bullying.</p> <p>The Australian Education Union has joined some of the other states in pushing for more federal funding so teachers can properly implement the 10-year Better and Fairer Schools agreement that aims to increase education standards.</p> <p>Education Minister Jason Clare has struck updated funding agreements with WA, Tasmania, the NT and the ACT, with NSW and Victoria holding out for an increase to 25 per cent.</p> <p>"This is great news for ACT students, families, teachers and school communities and is an important step in building a better and fairer education system," Mr Clare said.</p> <p>ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said the extra funding would boost school quality in the territory and help set children up for success.</p> <p>It would help deliver more school psychologists and mental health professionals, reduce teacher workload to help improve wellbeing and safeguard the delivery of evidence-based literacy and numeracy teaching, she said.</p> </body>